Property crime does not involve harming individuals directly, as violent crime does. Rather, it involves depriving the rightful owner of the use of the property. Note that “property” in this sense does not only refer to land and buildings. Rather, it is used in a broader sense including items of personal property, which can be almost anything that one owns.
There are many different types of property crimes, and they can range in severity depending on the intent of the alleged perpetrator and the value of the property itself. The following are some of the most common.
- Vandalism
Vandalism involves willful and unlawful destruction or defacement of another person’s property. An example would be throwing projectiles at the windows of a car or building in order to break them. Slashing the tires of a vehicle to let the air out is another example. One of the most prevalent, and therefore familiar, forms of vandalism is graffiti, which is difficult to prosecute unless the individual is caught in the act. A person wishing to make an insurance claim or take legal action over this type of property crime may find vandalism report retrieval helpful.
- Arson
Arson also involves the destruction of property, specifically by using fire. While vandalism typically involves other people’s property, a person can face charges of arson for burning his or her own property, especially if the intention was to commit fraud, or if someone else is injured as a result.
- Shoplifting
Shoplifting involves the theft of merchandise from a store without paying for it. This typically happens through concealment of the merchandise in a pocket or a bag. All sorts of retail establishments may be the target of shoplifting.
There is sometimes overlap between different types of property crimes. Some may also have an element of violence. Committing arson to do harm to someone is one example, as is robbery, which involves the theft of property from someone else’s person through the use of force. For this reason, sometimes robbery is categorized as a violent offense rather than a property crime.
